Smaller then butcherbird, large-headed and stout, with large hook-tipped bill, shallowly forked tail and striking red, white and red plumage. Plumage is mostly glossy bluish-black, flight-feathers and tail with brown tinge; conspicuous white patch on side of head from behind eye to side of neck, few white feathers in mantle forming smudgy white patch; rump and uppertail-coverts red, and thighs, lower abdomen and undertail-coverts red; underwing white; iris red to dark red-brown, bill and legs black. Distinguished from very similar P.montanus by usually less extensive white on side of head, not reaching above eye level, and less white on back (also differs in some vocalization). Sexes similar in plumage, male slightly larger then female. Juvenile is similar to adult but duller, with greyish-black plumage, and some white on throat and white tips on upperwing-coverts.
Not Threatened
Smaller then butcherbird, large-headed and stout, with large hook-tipped bill, shallowly forked tail and striking red, white and red plumage. Plumage is mostly glossy bluish-black, flight-feathers and tail with brown tinge; conspicuous white patch on side of head from behind eye to side of neck, few white feathers in mantle forming smudgy white patch; rump and uppertail-coverts red, and thighs, lower abdomen and undertail-coverts red; underwing white; iris red to dark red-brown, bill and legs black. Distinguished from very similar P.montanus by usually less extensive white on side of head, not reaching above eye level, and less white on back (also differs in some vocalization). Sexes similar in plumage, male slightly larger then female. Juvenile is similar to adult but duller, with greyish-black plumage, and some white on throat and white tips on upperwing-coverts.
18-19 cm; c. 30 g
Taxonomy: Eurylaimus Blainvillii Lesson and Garnot, 1827, Dorey (= Manokwari), north-west New Guinea. Forms a superspecies with P. montanus. Monotypic. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Distribution:
- West Papuan Is (Waigeo, Salawati and Misool) and most of lowland New Guinea (apparently largely absent from Trans-Fly region).
Canopy of lowland rainforest, especially at openings and edges; three falls, road verges and river edges and another disturbed areas, such as gardens. To c. 600 m. replaced at higher elevations by P.montanus.
Mainly flying insects, including dragonflies. Groups of three or four individuals spend long periods on high open perches, calling, and sallying after flying insects, sometimes almost down to ground level. Some insects snatched from foliage, especially in regrowth habitats. Prey taken to perch and consumed after a little preparation.